One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25
On Monday, after returning from a trip, I do my grocery shopping. I buy the usual items, including the typical pack of toilet paper. On Thursday, I stop by my local supermarket for a couple of items that I realized I had not bought earlier. Upon entering the store, I’m checking my phone for my very short grocery list when I hear a man passing by with his cart say, “I’ve never seen a grocery store so crowded!” I look up from my phone and my eyes fall on the numerous check-out lines, each several persons deep with each customer’s cart filled to overflowing. Having been away from home for a while as I traveled to a country that had been untouched by the coronavirus, it takes me a second to realize what I’m seeing: hoarding, with the underlying emotions of panic, fear, and anxiety.
I begin my shopping with the basket slung over my arm as I weave in and out of the mob of shoppers, each pushing a full cart loaded up with all kinds of items. I have to wonder if they truly need all of them. By this time, I’m wondering if I’m missing something by my lack of panic. When I notice that the pasta aisle is 75% cleared out, I do ask myself if I need any pasta but decide I don’t. After placing the 5 or 6 items I’m buying in my basket, I go to the check-out counter where I’m thankful to see the express lane, now converted into self-checkout, has a short line. It’s not until I’m home and am texting a friend on the East coast who tells me there is no toilet paper where she is that I realize I should have checked out the toilet paper aisle at the store. Just out of curiosity, of course!
The next day I read in my newsfeeds about the panic over toilet paper. Apparently, when told to stock up on household supplies to last a couple of weeks, people instantly gravitate toward hoarding toilet paper. According to this article, by hoarding this commodity, we feel a sense of control, like we’ve done all we can do to protect ourselves from this pandemic called CoVid-19 or coronavirus.
The reality is we have not. Nor can we. We can take precautionary measures and I’m all for that, like social distancing and hand sanitizing. But the reality is we are not in control of this coronavirus of epic proportions. But I know Someone who is.
God. God alone is in control of this world when the globe seems to spin out of control. That’s true when times are normal and it’s definitely true during this most unusual time. While fear of uncertainty and fear of the unknown are normal human feelings, we don’t have to surrender to our fears.
When the disciples head across the Sea of Galilee, a storm rips across the waters, tossing the boat and creating a lot of fear and panic in the hearts of these followers of Jesus. Exhausted from teaching and healing, Jesus is sleeping in the stern of the boat, seemingly heedless of the waves rocking the small vessel. As their boat fills up with water, the disciples, realizing they are in serious trouble, wake their Master. It’s almost as if He is their last resort. Jesus stands up in the boat and sharply tells the wind and the waves to stop. Miraculously, they do. Even though the disciples have witnessed other miracles by Jesus, they are still amazed at His power and authority over the sea and the wind. Jesus rebukes His disciples for the small amount of faith they have. Perhaps Jesus allowed them to experience fear for a time so they can learn that it is through Jesus that storms are calmed and fears arrested. Maybe they should have woken Him up first before trying to bail the water out of the boat by themselves.
For those of us who profess Jesus as our Savior, how big is our faith? Do we have faith enough to believe He is Lord of ALL of our difficult circumstances? Are we, like the disciples, trying to bail water in this current pandemic on our own while we forget Jesus is in the boat with us? He alone has the power to calm our anxious hearts and give us peace.
We have a choice. We can choose to give into fear, panic, and hoarding. Or, we can choose to trust the One who calmed the waves and the wind to calm the storm raging in and around us.
One way to rebuke the fear and receive God’s peace is to focus on who God is and how we have hope in Him. We can do this by parking our minds on God and His Word. See previous blog entitled Alphabet Prayers (posted 1/1/20) for attributes of God on which to focus. Also, click here for a free, downloadable PDF of Bible verses that speak to overcoming fear and receiving His peace and hope. Select a verse (or two) and read or recite it when fear threatens to overcome you.
May we be people of faith, not fear. May we be generous and giving, rather than selfish and hoarding. May we hold onto peace rather than panic. P-a-n-d-e-m-i-c doesn’t have to spell P-a-n-i-c. When we add God to our perspective, with just another “e” for Elohim (Hebrew for God), it can spell P-e-a-c-e.
Jesus, You are Lord over all, including this coronavirus and my fears. Give me Your perspective and hope. Grow my faith so that I can experience peace instead of panic. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. Amen.
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Text and photograph copyright © 2020 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Lake Hayes, near Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
On Monday, after returning from a trip, I do my grocery shopping. I buy the usual items, including the typical pack of toilet paper. On Thursday, I stop by my local supermarket for a couple of items that I realized I had not bought earlier. Upon entering the store, I’m checking my phone for my very short grocery list when I hear a man passing by with his cart say, “I’ve never seen a grocery store so crowded!” I look up from my phone and my eyes fall on the numerous check-out lines, each several persons deep with each customer’s cart filled to overflowing. Having been away from home for a while as I traveled to a country that had been untouched by the coronavirus, it takes me a second to realize what I’m seeing: hoarding, with the underlying emotions of panic, fear, and anxiety.
I begin my shopping with the basket slung over my arm as I weave in and out of the mob of shoppers, each pushing a full cart loaded up with all kinds of items. I have to wonder if they truly need all of them. By this time, I’m wondering if I’m missing something by my lack of panic. When I notice that the pasta aisle is 75% cleared out, I do ask myself if I need any pasta but decide I don’t. After placing the 5 or 6 items I’m buying in my basket, I go to the check-out counter where I’m thankful to see the express lane, now converted into self-checkout, has a short line. It’s not until I’m home and am texting a friend on the East coast who tells me there is no toilet paper where she is that I realize I should have checked out the toilet paper aisle at the store. Just out of curiosity, of course!
The next day I read in my newsfeeds about the panic over toilet paper. Apparently, when told to stock up on household supplies to last a couple of weeks, people instantly gravitate toward hoarding toilet paper. According to this article, by hoarding this commodity, we feel a sense of control, like we’ve done all we can do to protect ourselves from this pandemic called CoVid-19 or coronavirus.
The reality is we have not. Nor can we. We can take precautionary measures and I’m all for that, like social distancing and hand sanitizing. But the reality is we are not in control of this coronavirus of epic proportions. But I know Someone who is.
God. God alone is in control of this world when the globe seems to spin out of control. That’s true when times are normal and it’s definitely true during this most unusual time. While fear of uncertainty and fear of the unknown are normal human feelings, we don’t have to surrender to our fears.
When the disciples head across the Sea of Galilee, a storm rips across the waters, tossing the boat and creating a lot of fear and panic in the hearts of these followers of Jesus. Exhausted from teaching and healing, Jesus is sleeping in the stern of the boat, seemingly heedless of the waves rocking the small vessel. As their boat fills up with water, the disciples, realizing they are in serious trouble, wake their Master. It’s almost as if He is their last resort. Jesus stands up in the boat and sharply tells the wind and the waves to stop. Miraculously, they do. Even though the disciples have witnessed other miracles by Jesus, they are still amazed at His power and authority over the sea and the wind. Jesus rebukes His disciples for the small amount of faith they have. Perhaps Jesus allowed them to experience fear for a time so they can learn that it is through Jesus that storms are calmed and fears arrested. Maybe they should have woken Him up first before trying to bail the water out of the boat by themselves.
For those of us who profess Jesus as our Savior, how big is our faith? Do we have faith enough to believe He is Lord of ALL of our difficult circumstances? Are we, like the disciples, trying to bail water in this current pandemic on our own while we forget Jesus is in the boat with us? He alone has the power to calm our anxious hearts and give us peace.
We have a choice. We can choose to give into fear, panic, and hoarding. Or, we can choose to trust the One who calmed the waves and the wind to calm the storm raging in and around us.
One way to rebuke the fear and receive God’s peace is to focus on who God is and how we have hope in Him. We can do this by parking our minds on God and His Word. See previous blog entitled Alphabet Prayers (posted 1/1/20) for attributes of God on which to focus. Also, click here for a free, downloadable PDF of Bible verses that speak to overcoming fear and receiving His peace and hope. Select a verse (or two) and read or recite it when fear threatens to overcome you.
May we be people of faith, not fear. May we be generous and giving, rather than selfish and hoarding. May we hold onto peace rather than panic. P-a-n-d-e-m-i-c doesn’t have to spell P-a-n-i-c. When we add God to our perspective, with just another “e” for Elohim (Hebrew for God), it can spell P-e-a-c-e.
Jesus, You are Lord over all, including this coronavirus and my fears. Give me Your perspective and hope. Grow my faith so that I can experience peace instead of panic. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2020 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Lake Hayes, near Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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